Rexburg Update

So its Almost Christmas time and things have been super busy. Life I guess is always busy so here is an update. Herbert and I are living in Rexburg Idaho while Herbert goes to BYU-Idaho and I am working at Madison School District as a Youth Coordinator. We LOVE being married, I just wish we had more time together. We treasure our time together so much, its like there is nothing else that matters but spending every free second we are not at work or school together. We had Thanksgiving with my family in Driggs, Idaho, that was an adventure. We always have tons of fun. I will post some pictures when I get them off of Herbert's computer. My favorite family memory from this Thanksgiving was at dinner we were laughing about something that had to do with the anatomy or the body which is what we commonly talk about because my sister is taking anatomy and my brother is almost a nurse...Then the conversation turns to cooking and my brother mentions he really likes fennel seed and he has been putting it in everything as he is cooking. Well I mention that I thought that was what black licorices taste was from and my dad says no I thought that was anus. We all look around awkwardly then my mom says you mean Anise (stress the second syllable like An-ise). We all bust up laughing. Good one Dad! I know not the most appropriate but it was HILARIOUS!

I can't believe my brother and sister are graduating in May and April. When did they get past 16???? My brother is going to be a nurse and I have been watching Grey's Anatomy when Herbert is doing homework or at school and well, they have a lot of responsibility. I can't think of anyone better than my brother (well maybe my sister) that would be an incredible nurse and save people's lives and make people feel good in bad situations and help people in a way that not many others can. I am very proud of him.

My sister is incredible as well, she has changed her major a few times but everytime she figures out a new way to help people from studying and researching microbiology stuff about the human body and learning new things to move science forward and make new discoveries that doctors and others can put into practice. To becoming someone who practices medicine herself to someone who helps young teenage moms who feel like they have no options left. I am so proud of her, she really understands there is a way to help others have hope when they have none. She will make a great social worker and mom one day.

I think I am going to start selling the crocheted hats I am making so if anyone is interested my specialty is letting yo pick colors and patterns and I will make you a hat. Let me know if you want one! They will be cheap at first =) I need feedback on them so that can be part of the trade. You tell me what you like/dislike/can see improve and I will sell you a hat for ridiculously cheap. Thats all for now!

ROAD TRIP AK-FL

We drove from Alaska to Florida in 2 weeks! It can be done with out killing a car, killing an animal or killing each other. I wish I could go through each day, well I could but I would be on here a week or two trying to go through the details so I will hit the highlights. We started in Anchorage and drove to Valdez, stayed there a few days and packed up the car, then we took off into the wild green yonder of Alaska and Canada the Yukon Territory! We saw soooo many animals like, caribou, moose, black and brown bears, stone sheep, elk, deer, buffalo, and all sorts of birds. The scenery in northern Canada is AMAZING words just don't do it justice. We tried to make it in by The 2nd of May to Vancouver, BC because an LDS temple was going to be dedicated there that Sunday and we just made it!!! It was amazing we even got to watch the festival the night before. That was amazing! We entered the lower 48 and went to see Western Washington University where I went to college. That was really neat to show Herbert around my ole stomping grounds. We went to visit some college buddies, Casey and Russel Rigby and David and Cody Koenig. So great to see them again and hear all the exciting things going on in their lives.

We made it through Oregon into Idaho and unloaded our overloaded car, at one point Herbert had the back open and was taking through all our stuff and I was in the front seat oblivious to anything he was saying, that is how packed our car was. We thankfully had a storage unit and unloaded and we could see out the back of our car! what a novelty! Something we definitely take for granted every day. In 1 day we found an apartment, I had a job interview and we got all the paperwork done for Herbert we needed too. It was amazing. MIRACLE STORY: We went camping that night and it was freeeeeeezinggggggg, colder than I have been in a LONG time, and the cows were mooooooing all night and the side of the road that was suggested to us wasn't as great as we thought, (for the full story ask us sometime) so the next morning we had to go back to BYUIdaho and finish some paperwork and when we got there we realized Herberts ring was gone!!!! We searched EVERYWHERE!!! We called the places we had stopped at and finally drove out to the place we had camped. Said a prayer and got out of the car and found it. What a MIRACLE!!!!! It was a great learning experience! So we continued on our trip, we drove to Utah and had dinner with Sarah then headed down to Southern Utah and camped at an awesome sandy spot off the road a little sooo much warmer!!!! The next day we went to the Grand Canyon and had a lot of fun taking pictures. Then headed to Tuscan Arizona to visit family. Then the long, flat, boring, dusty, dry drive from Arizona through New Mexico where we stopped in Roswell and it was everything I had ever expected. Then over through Texas and Oklahoma where we saw dust storms and 2 days later learned there was a Tornado right where we drove through!!! Headed to Arkansas next to see a Mission friend and had the biggest pizza of our lives there, 4 pizzas combined into 1, it was AMAZING!! We then headed to Georgia and now Louisiana is the only state in the South that I haven't been to. We visited friends in Georgia and finally entered Florida. Our favorite sign in Georgia on the side of the road that we felt depicted the edumication sometimes people stereotypically receive in the South was, a sign that read, PECHS written about 5 feet tall on the side of a barn on a back road. We laughed really hard and were tempted to go back and take a picture. We finally arrived in Florida starting the next adventure in our lives. =)

THE WEDDING

Wow what an incredible day our wedding was. Here are the highlights. We were married and not only married but sealed for time and all eternity in the Anchorage Alaska Temple. What an incredible experience and feeling. It was a special time for us to spend together with friends and family that were there. Herbert and I were able to spend a few minutes together alone and it was just very special.

We has so many pictures taken which was really fun because it was way laid back. We went to Turnagain Arm and took some incredible scenic photos. Those turned out to be my favorite. Almost every car that drove by honked at us. We were not expecting that, but it was so funny!

We went to the Bed and Breakfast where we were having our reception it is called Frontier Gardens, the best place ever! It was so perfect! Took more pictures and had a blast seeing everyone again. It was so fun to catch up with people I haven't seen for years! If only we had like 10 more hours to actually talk to people =) We had a short ring ceremony where we talked about the temple a little bit and what it felt like and what the room was like. Then we exchanged rings and then cut the cake. It was a blast. Sarah, my sister and Nathan, Herbert's friend gave speeches and then we visited some more. My friend Kelly wanted to sing a song we sang on our missions a lot, it's called lead kindly light. So Herbert, Kelly, Nathan and I all sang. then we passed out bubbles and everyone lined up outside waiting for us to come out. We went into the kitchen and talked to Rita and thanked her and chugged some water and then headed out. It was sooo fun Herbert carried me through the shower of bubbles to the car. It was the best day of my life and every say since then has just been better and better. It's so fun to hang out with your best friend every day and know you are theirs and they are yours and you get to do fun things like Drive from Alaska to Florida and go fly kites on the beach. It's the coolest most fun thing ever!!! I love being married. More pictures to come.

LESS THAN 30 DAYS!!!!

So we hit the 30 day mark and past it! I'm so excited to be married to my best friend for time and all eternity and can't wait for it to start!

So I had the best bridal shower every! So many people that I love came and Ashley was the best host! Man she wouldn't let me help at all!! She made an amazing Cake and we played fun games and it was just a blast! It is really exciting to be getting married I hope the excitement lasts a long time. For all of you who read these posts what advice would you give to keep everything exciting, new or peaceful?? =) I'm curious about advice though the ages of marriage.

Update on life:
Wedding plans are going well, working at Valdez City Pool is going well, and babysitting the Peterson kids is sooooo much fun!!! It's like my favorite thing to do ever! I love that one of the boys says quee instead of Tree, it is sooo cute!!!

Story time:
I love working with youth, they are so fun and energetic and excited, sound familiar? Anyway, the other day at the pool a little boy was sitting on the side crying, and it seemed like a real fake cry, so I told him, "You have 2 choices, you can either go sit on the bench and freeze and stop crying, or you can stop crying and go have fun." He said "OK I will stop crying" and immediately stopped. It's amazing what the body can do once the mind is made up.

So I was at a friends house and her 3 year old sister and I were looking at wedding magazines and she kept pointing out the most expensive elaborate diamonds, dresses, cakes and jewelry and I thought it was so funny, what a pretty princess, the poor guy whom she will marry....Well I went home and told my parents how funny and cute it was and my mom said "You know who else use to point at the most expensive elaborate things like that?" my response was a gasp and a "Nooooo! ME???" "Yes you", she said. So for that little princess and way future prince....there is hope.

Planning

Well the wedding plans are going well. I thought we were ahead for a bit but now we are a little behind. It always seems like there is something else to do but day by day as it gets closer I think "YIKES better get going!" and do a bunch at once then do other things and the cycle continues. Its been really fun though I never thought I would say that.

I thought planning a wedding had to be stressful and horrible but its not that bad and I'm actually enjoying picking out what I like or what we like =).... It was not so fun at first because I saw everything that had to be done and thought it had to be done RIGHT NOW. But thankfully that is not true at all. It's fun to set out a list of little things to do each day and then it all comes together. Love it.

It's also amazing to me how many people are willing to help and come out of the wood work with amazing talents. For instance one of my mom's friends LOVES to cook, who knew! and she is helping us with cooking all the food! Thank You Laurie!! Same with Flowers, cakes, heming dresses, incredible the talents people have! If you need to know how to camp, lead a group of youngsers into the wilderness, teach swim lessons, work with a troubled teen, run a game or activity or rapel off of something high you can call me. The other stuff I will leave to the people who know what they are doing and like it when it comes to weddings.

Life is good.

The Creation

So Herbert and I created this blog for people to get updates on whats going on in our lives and the wedding coming up here soon!!! We are super excited!

We are getting married in the Anchorage Alaska Temple on April 24, 2010! There is a reception afterwards and an open house the Tuesday before. If you want an invitation just email or message us your address! wilcoxy12@gmail.com thanks so much!